Num 14:1, The people murmur at the news; Num 14:6, Joshua and Caleb labour to still them; v.11, God threatens them; v.13, Moses intercedes with God, and obtains pardon; v.26, The murmurers are debarred from entering into the land; v.36, The men who raised the evil report die by a plague; v.40, The people that would invade the land against the will of God are smitten.

defence: Heb. shadow, Tzillam, a metaphor highly expressive of protection and support in the sultry eastern countries. (See the parallel passages.) The Arabs and Persians use the same word to express the same thing; using the expressions, "May the shadow (zulli) of thy prosperity be extended." "May the shadow of thy prosperity be spread over the heads of thy well-wishers." And in an elegant distich, "May your protection never be removed from my head; may God extend your shadow (zullikem) eternally." The loftiest and most esteemed title of the sultan, says Thornton, because given him by the kings of Persia, is zil ullah, shadow of God. Psa 91:1, Psa 121:5; Isa 30:2, Isa 30:3, Isa 32:2; Jer 48:45

another spirit: Caleb had another spirit; not only a bold, generous, courageous, noble, and heroic spirit, but the Spirit and influence of God, which thus raised him above human inquietudes and earthly fears. Therefore he followed God fully; literally, "and he filled after me:" God shewed him the way he was to take and the line of conduct he was to pursue, and he filled up this line, and in all things followed the will of his Maker.

shall wander in the wilderness: or, feed, This implies, that they should move from place to place in the deserts, as the Bedounin Arabs, who have no certain dwelling, but rove about seeking pasture for their flocks. Num 32:13; Jos 14:10; Psa 107:4, Psa 107:40

breach of promise: or, altering of my purpose, Tenooathi, rather, my failure, or disannulling, from noo, to fail, disannul; for as they had broken their engagements, God was no longer held by his covenant. Deu 31:16, Deu 31:17; Sa1 2:30; Zac 11:10

those men: Thus ten of the twelve who searched out the land were struck dead, by the justice of God, on the spot. In commemoration of this event, the Jews, to this day, celebrate a fast, on the seventh day of the month Elul.

they presumed: This miserable people a short time ago, thought that, though Omnipotence was with them, they could not conquer and possess the land! Now they imagine, that though God himself go not with them, yet they shall be sufficient to drive out the inhabitants, and take possession of their country! Man is ever supposing he can do all things, or do nothing. he is therefore sometimes presumptuous, and at other times in despair. Num 15:30; Deu 1:43